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A one-hertz hypocycloidal pinch plasma pump source for ultraviolet dye lasers

Conference · · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (USA)
OSTI ID:7004930
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Hampton University, Hampton, VA 23668 (US)

We have utilized a repetitively operated hypocycloidal pinch plasma device (HCP) as a broadband optical pump source for ultraviolet (uv) lasers. This presentation discusses enhancements in the system previously reported to allow 1 Hz operation. The dye selected for testing the system is BBQ which has an absorption peak at a wavelength of 305 nm and a fluorescence peak at a wavelength of 385 nm. We have measured a slope efficiency of 0.01% for pumping BBQ. Dependence of the laser performance on firing rates (up to 1 Hz) and on dye flow rates has been characterized. Our system compares favorably with coaxial flashlamp pumped uv dye lasers with similar input energies and repetition rates and can, however, be scaled to input energies higher than those achievable with flashlamps.

OSTI ID:
7004930
Report Number(s):
CONF-8810399--; CNN: AFOSR-86-0345
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (USA), Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (USA) Vol. 191:1; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPC
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English